OSBA WINNNER:
Our Manchester Project Officer, Karen Andrew has won an Outstanding Social Behaviour Award in the Peace in Manchester category! Karen is pictured here with David Gray who won the Peace Activist award for his work in Gorton (and is also the leader of the Faith in Community Allotment in Gorton - a project supported by Faiths4Change).
Since the award on Saturday 13th March, Karen has been interviewed by Manchester Evening News (the awards reached the front page); BBC Radio Manchester's Heather Stott live morning show and a work experience journalist for the next copy of Old Trafford News. I think that adds up to more than 15 minutes of fame!
SQUARE FOOTERS
The Boaz Trust support refugee and asylum seekers in Greater Manchester. Their housing manager, Nigel Biggs, was encouraged to bid for a development fund grant to roll out a pilot of the Square Footers initiative. The idea is to make a large 4' x 4' square box (made form recycled wood) and mark out each square and plant up a different vegetable or herb in each square box, to feed a family or household of 4 all year round. With the help of a trainer to assemble the planters and plant up the squares we made 5 boxes with refugees in Harpurhey and Nigel was to finish the 6th in Rusholme. Refugee households will benefit from a fresh supply of vegetables in the coming months, help them understand the English weather and help to free up their limited financial resources.
OLD TRAFFORD SHARKS
Stainless Steel Fins have been installed at St John's Centre and St John's Church in Old Trafford, this month. Pictured are Centre staff with Emma, the first user, caught on camera at least! ' Cutting the ribbon ' ceremony by Centre Manager Chris Aspinall beside the sign with the quote "Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you need to keep moving" (Albert Einstein). The church sign's quote is "Cycle to Church for Body, Soul and Planet", (John Hughes) Two great philosophers! The racks were supplied and fitted by Bailey Streetscene of Macclesfield - an excellent service I can confidently recommend.
FLOWERS,FAITH AND PHOTOS
A 9 week photographic course including preparing an exhibition on the subject of the physical environment and places of faith in Old Trafford, was officially opened in St John's Church, by the Bishop of Middleton. The Bishop acknowledged the way in which the church is working with the local community in this creative way. John Hughes, Priest in Charge, acknowledged that Faiths4Change has been a catalyst for change within his church.
You may view the range of photos taken by local people, in the church from 12th April - 30th April between the following times: Mon-Tues: 9.00 - 11.00am; Mon - Thurs 5.00 - 6.00pm and Fridays 5.00 - 7.00pm.
LORETO GREEN FINGERS - HULME
Students on the enrichment course got more than they bargained for when they signed up to do some gardening and exploring faith attitudes to the environment. Students seen here with chaplain Emma Sweeney assembled planters which they will line, fill and then plant up with a range of vegetables and herbs to help feed the hungry students in the canteen. Hulme Community Garden Centre have been providing tuition on the horticultural aspect of this project and the chaplain pictured on the far right has been raising awareness of faith attitudes to the environment such as; the Buddhist admonition is to utilise nature in the same way a bee collects pollen from the flower, neither polluting its beauty nor depleting its fragrance. Man should be able to find happiness and fulfilment in life without harming the natural world in which he lives.
